Tooth cleaning device with removable cleaning member



March 6, 1956 2,736,917

J. M. GOLDSTEIN ET AL TOOTH CLEANING DEVICE WITH REMOVABLE CLEANING MEMBER Filed July 30, 1952 Jam-0221 aolds'le irz/ flabefli jerzr zm INVENTORS,

I 1 BY I '1) ATTORNEYS United States Patent TOOTH CLEANING DEVICE WITH REMOVABLE CLEANING MEMBER Jacob M. Goldstein and Robert Berman, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Application July 30, 1952, Serial No. 301,754 1 Claim. (Cl. -210) This invention relates to tooth brush construction, the primary object of the invention being to provide a tooth brush which will promote oral hygiene by providing a brush which is so constructed and arranged that the brush section may be readily removed and discarded after use, to the end that a clean and sanitary brush is used each time the teeth and mouth are being brushed.

An important object of the invention is to provide a tooth brush handle having a wide end hollowed out and having an open side through which the brushing member is inserted and held ,in the hollowed out portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brushing element in the form of a roll of absorbent material capable of being impregnated or saturated with a dentifrice for instant use, eliminating the necessity of applying tooth paste or tooth powder to the brush.

A still further object of the invention is to construct the hollowed out portion with curved walls so that when the roll of absorbent material is forced into the hollowed out portion, the roll of absorbent material will expand and be firmly held against accidental displacement while in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a tooth brush constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental elevational view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the brush comprises a handle 5 which has one end thereof constructed to provide the brush head 6 which is hollowed out, providing a socket extending throughout substantially the entire length of the brush head.

The brush head is open along one side thereof and the wall of the hollowed out portion is curved, as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing, providing parallel inwardly extended flanges 7 disposed along the edges of the open side of the head.

As clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawing, these inwardly extended flanges are constructed to provide teeth 8 that extend inwardly to bite into the brush element 9 of the tooth brush to hold the brush element firmly in position against accidental displacement when in use.

The brush element 9 embodies a roll of cotton or similar absorbent material capable of being impregnated or saturated with a dentifrice, so that when the brush element is positioned in the hollow portion of the brush handle, it will be unnecessary to supply tooth paste or powder thereto, as is necessary with the usual tooth brush wherein permanent bristles are provided.

Patented Mar. 6, 1956 Because of the nature of the absorbent roll of which the brush element is constructed, it will be obvious that it is an easy matter to withdraw the brush elements from the hollow portion of the brush head by pulling the extended portion of the brush.

When it is desired to replace the removed brush member it is only necessary to compress the brush member along its side edges and force it into the hollow portion of the brush head. When the brush member has been inserted and released the cotton or absorbent material will necessarily expand to fill the hollowed out portion of the brush head, as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing, the teeth 8 extending into the cotton or absorbent material holding the brush member securely within the brush head against accidental displacement.

Extending from one surface of the handle adjacent to one end thereof, is the enlargement 10 over which the rubber tip 11 is positioned, the rubber tip having an opening to receive the enlargement, and which is gripped by the wall of the opening. This rubber tip may be used in massaging gums at the bases and between adjacent teeth to stimulate the gums.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing I have illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the handle is indicated by the reference character 12, the handle having a wide hollowed out portion, the upper edges of which are formed with teeth or serrations 13.

The reference character 14 indicates a block of suitable material such as rubber or cotton which is provided with a roughened surface for use in cleaning the teeth and massaging the gums.

In this form of the invention the block of material may be readily and easily removed and replaced when desired.

It might also be stated that it is contemplated to supply the brush members as units so that the brush members may be readily and easily positioned for use, the construction of the brush being such that a new and unused brush member may be positioned Within the brush head for each cleaning of the teeth and mouth.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A tooth cleaning member comprising an elongated handle having an elongated hollow head at one end thereof, the walls of the hollow head portion being transversely curved providing inwardly extended longitudinal flanges at opposite sides of the hollow head, and end flanges extending into the hollow portion of the head at the ends thereof, confronting teeth carried by said longitudinal flanges, confronting teeth carried by said end flanges, a cleaning member embodying a roll of cotton material impregnated with dentifrice, fitted within said hollow head, the teeth of said longitudinal and end flanges being embedded in the sides and ends of said cleaning member normally holding said cleaning member within said hollow head, the portion of the roll of cotton material within the hollow head conforming to the contour of said curved wall, and portions of said cleaning member throughout the length of the roll extending beyond the open side of the head, providing a tooth cleaning medium.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 915,417 Dewerpe Mar. 16, 1909 1,059,364 Hollingsworth Apr. 22, 1913 1,366,092 Lowenherz Jan. 18, 1921 1,421,875 Webster July 4, 1922 1,421,911 Cohen July 4, 1922 1,521,425 Buckley Dec. 30, 1924 1,604,731 Whittaker Oct. 26, 1926 1,729,168 Knapp Sept. 24, 1929 1,769,747 Major July 1, 1930 2,299,296 Battle Oct. 20, 1942 

